Rotary drier or cooler



Jan. 8, 1952 J. ERISMAN 2,581,756

ROTARY DRIER OR- COOLER Filed June 19, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet 1 J. L.ERISMAN ROTARY DRIER OR COOLER Jan. 8, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June19, 1947 wmnnmmmmnmmmn; V T

Jan. 8, 1952 J. ERISMAN 2,581,756

ROTARY DRIER OR COOLER Filed June 19, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 .932 2.9 Y3/ 37 5/ 27 a .95 v 3/ 32 5/ 28 J/ 37 34 44 Jan. 8, 1952 J. L. ERISMAN2,531,755

ROTARY DRIER OR COOLER Filed June 19, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 PatentedJan. 8, 1952 ROTARY DRIER OR COOLER John L. Erisman, Oak Park, 111.,assignor to Link- Belt Company, a corporation of Illinois Application.iunis, 1947, Serial No. 755,664

9 Claims. (01. 34-135) This invention relates to rotary dryers orcoolers and deals more particularly with improvements in the type ofdryer or cooler disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application,Serial No. 644,754, filed February 1, 1946, now Patent No. 2,483,630,issued October 4, 1949.

The type of dryer or cooler covered by my above identified applicationconsists of a rotatable, horizontally arranged cell or cylinder throughthe central treatment chamber of which the bed of fiowable solids beingtreated is gradually advanced and gently agitated as a result ofrotation of the cell or cylinder. The central treatment chamber isformed by a circular series of longitudinally extending, overlapping,tangential louvres arranged radially inwardly of and supported by anannular series of longitudinally extending, substantially radial louvreswhich are secured at their outer longitudinal edge portions to theinterior surface of the cell or cylinder.

The series of radial louvres collectively form a circular series oflongitudinal treatment fluid passages which are opened throughout theirinher sides and are employed for distributing treatment fluid lengthwiseof the bed of material. The series of tangential louvres are provided insuch numbers and are so positioned with respect to the open sides of theaforesaid treatment fluid passages as to form a plurality oflongitudinally arranged, tangentially directed treatment fluid dischargepaths for each one of said passages.

It is the primary object of this invention to materially improve dryersor coolers of the above mentioned type by modifying the construction ofthe two series of louvres so as to provide a more rigid and durablestructure, and one which may be more easily serviced or repaired.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of animproved louvre assembly for dryers or coolers of the above mentionedtype which will make possible the standardization of most of theindividual parts or elements so that they can be assembled in the propernumbers or arrangements to produce louvre assemblies for dryers orcoolers having cells or cylinders of different lengths and/or diameters,with the result that a considerably smaller number of different sizedparts or elements can be manufactured for producing a complete range ofdryer or cooler sizes, and so that a substantially smaller number ofparts or elements need be kept in stock for supplying repair andreplacement parts to customers.

A still further important object of the invention is to materiallyimprove dryers or coolers of 2 the above mentioned type by modifying theconstruction of the two series of louvres so as to materially reduce thenumber of parts required for a complete louvre assembly; simplify themethod of assembling and supporting the tangential louvres on the radiallouvres; permit the series of tangential louvres to be sectionalizedlengthwise of the cell or cylinder, and permit each sectional part ofeach tangential louvre to be separately assembled or disassembled,whereby the cost of manufacturing this type of dryer or cooler and ofrepairing or replacing damaged louvres will be substantially reduced.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description. In the accompanyin drawingsforming a part of this specification and in which like numerals areemployed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the feed end of a rotary dryer orcooler embodying thisinvention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the dryer or coolerillustrated in Fig. 1,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on lines 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, and ele vational view taken at thefeed end of the dryer or cooler with the stationary distributor head orring removed,

Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, transverse sectional view takenthrough the cell or cylinder and the louvre assembly adjacent the,

discharge end of the dryer or cooler,

Figure 6 is a similar view to Fig; 5 but taken at another location withreference to the length of the dryer or cooler,

Figure 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view of the louvreassembly when seen from within the central treatment chamber and withone of the tangential louvres omitted to better illustrate itssupporting means, I

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail view taken on the section line 8--8 ofFig. 4,

Figure 9 is a similar view to Fig.8 but illustrates the manner in whichthe adjacent ends of two tangential louvre parts are interconnected andsupported,

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a flanged plate that is employed forsupporting a tangential louvre at one of the ends of the cell orcylinder,

Figure 11 is a detail perspective view of a flat plate that is employedfor supporting a tangenon the rollers I6 suitably journaled onthesupporting frame or base [1.

At th feed end of the dryer or cooler cell or cylinder, see Figs. 1 and2, a stationary distributor head or ring I8 is positioned andsupportedbythe frame members l9, see Fig. l. The feed end, also, is provided with aplate having a central feed opening 29a through which the material to betreated is delivered to the central treatment chamber of the dryer orcooler. The distributor head or ring. I8 is formedwith a treatment fluidinlet momma 2| through which the hot or cold treatment fluid isdelivered to one selected portron-or zoneof the interior of the cellorcylinder M at apoint adjacent its inner circumference.

Fig. 2 shows the diseharge end of'th'edryer or cooler cell or cylinder Mas having attached thereto a discharge endplate 22 that is formed with adischarge opening 23' through which the treated material spills andthrough which the used hot or cold tl' atfiint fluid is exhausted aft ithas p'assed through the bed or: mater-tar being treated in the centralchamber" of the dryer or cooler. V

The patent to Charl es'A. Schneider, No. 2',2'5-3,- 058, issuedAugustiaieci, discloses in considerably greater detail the constructionof the stationary distributor head or ring 18'. Consequently, referencemaybe made to this patent for a better disclosure of this element.

V The .dryer or cooler cell or cylinder M" has formed therein anannular' series of longitudinal treatment fluid passages that arelocated adja cent its inner circumference. These passages 24 are bestillustrated in'Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive, as beingformed by thelongitudinally extending, substantially radially arranged louvre plates25 that are secured along their outer longitudinal edges to the innersurface of the cell or cylinder H! in any suitable manner, such as bycontinuous or tack welding, or by being suitably flanged and bolted orriveted to the cellor cylinder. By inspe'oting Figs; 2, e, 5 and 6, itwill be" seen that these radial louvres'25' are gradually reduced indepth lengthwise of the cell or cylinder It with the result that thespace defined collectively by theinne'f, free longitudinal edge portionsof these louvres gradually increases in diameter'from the feed and tothe discharge end of the cell or cylinder.

Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, best illustrate the fact that the inner freeedge port ons of the radial Isuv'res 25 are provided with rightangulai'ly'arranged flanges 26' that are on the trailing sides of theradia1 louvres with reference to the direction of rotation of the cellor cylinder, as indicatescy the arrow line A ofFi-g. 3. Theselongitudinal edge flanges it, of course, help to stiffen and preventbuckling of the radial louvres 2L5 they aresubjected to treatmentfluidat elevated ternperatures. These flanged longitudinal edges 26 also playan important part, as will be pointed out in detail as the descriptionproceeds, in supporting tangential louvres on the radial louvres.

At any desired number of equally spaced locations throughout the lengthof the cell or cylinder M, the inner, free, longitudinal edge portionsof the radial louvres 25 are tied together and braced by the bars 21'.Fig. 2 discloses these tying bars to be provided at four longitudinallyspaced locations: Two of these locations occur at the opposite endportions of the radial louvres 25. The remaining two locations for tyingbars 27' are equally spaced between the end locations. Figs-.- 3 to- 5-,inclusive, best illustrate the fact that the tying bars Zl'are locatedbetween the inner longitudinal edge portions of adjacent radial louvres251 Each tying bar is provided with a substantially right angularly bentor flanged end portion 23. The flanged or bent end 28 of each tyingbaris Welded, as at 29, to the longitudinal edge portion of one of itstwo associated radial louvres so as to extend radially inwardly of theflange 26 of said louvre. v The remaining end' portion of each tying bar21 is- Welded as at 30 to the outer face of the flange 25 of the secondone of the two radial louvres 25 with which the tying bar is associated.It will be understood, therefore, that at each one of the severallocations for the tying bars 21, a circular series of such bars isprovided and the series is concentrically arranged with reference to thecell or cylinder l4. Therefore, at'each location fora circular series oftying bars 21,- a continuous ring is formed by the cooperation of thetying bars- 21- with the circumferentially aligned portions of the:radial louvre flanges 26.

By inspecting the several figures, and particula'rly Figs. 2 to 5,inclusive, and 7, it will be seen that each radially inwardly directedend portion 28' of each tying bar 21 has welded to it, and to thecooperating radial louvre flange 2G, a filler bar 34. As seen in Fig.'7, these filler bars 31 are equal in length to about four times thewidth of a tying'ba'r 2T. I

. Each tying bar 21' and-the filler bar 3! that is attached to the endflange 28' of the tying bar have welded thereto, as at 32 and 33, seeFigs.

4 and 5, a tangential supporting plate .34 or 35.

Figs. 4, 8-,and 10' disclose the louvre supporting plates 34 while Figs.5 and 9 disclose the louvre supporting plates 35-. In other words, thelouvre supporting plates 34 are of single width and; are associated withthe tying bars-21 that are located at the opposite ends of the cell orcylinder 14 while the tangential louvre supporting plates 35 are ofdouble width and are associated with maining' end portion is bent toprovide a flange 4t an'cta curved portion 4l. It will be seen byparticularly inspecting Figs. 4', 5, 8' and 9 that the louvre supportingplates 34 and 35 form angu- Iar seats while the main body portions ofSaid louvre supporting plates are tangentially ar ranged. The functionperformed by these plates 34 and 35 will be explained more in detail ata later point.

Figs. 4, 7, 8' and 11 disclose a single width, fiat,

tangential louvre supporting plate 42, one of which is provided for eachone of the tying bars 2! located at the, opposite ends ofthe cell orcylinder l4. These single width, flat, louvre supporting plates 42areeach provided with'a single, transversely elongated aperture 43 adjacentone end portion. The remaining end portion is not bent like the endportion of each one of the louvre supporting plates 34., Each one ofthese plates 42 is welded, as at 44, to one of the flanges 26 of aradial louvre 25, and, as at 45, to the end edge of the flange 31 of theassociated louvre supporting plate 34. By particularly inspecting Fig.4, it will be seen that the main body of each one of the flat louvresupporting plates 42 cooperates with the associated radial louvre flange26 and filler bar 3| to form an angular seat that will function the sameas the angular seat that is formed by the main body portion of each oneof the supporting plates 34, its end flange 31, and its curved portion38.

Figs. 5, 7, 9 and 12 disclose double width, flat, tangential louvresupporting plates 46. These double width plates are provided adjacentone end portion with the two transversely elongated apertures 41. Eachone of these double width supporting plates 46 is welded as at 48 to aradial louvre flanged inner edge 25, and at 49 to the extremity of aflange 40 of a louvre supporting plate 35. It will be seen, therefore,that the flatbody portions of the plates 46 cooperate with theirassociated filler bars 31 and radial louvre flanges 26 to form angularseats that will function in the same way as the angular seats formed bythe main bodies of the louvre supporting plates 35, their end flanges.40 and their intermediate curved portions 4|.

From the above description of the louvre supporting plates 34, 35, 42and 46, it will be seen that each location throughout the length of thecell or cylinder 14 that is provided with a circular series of tyingbars 21, also, is provided with a circular series of angular seats whichwill function to support and properly position tangential louvres. Itfurther will be noted-that there are twice as many angular seats fortangential louvres as there are tying bars 21 and treatment fluidpassages 24 that open radially inwardly of the cell or cylinder l4.

Figs. 2 to 9, inclusive, disclose longitudinally extending, radiallyoverlapped, tangential louvres, each one of which is designated in itsentirety by the reference numeral 50. Figs. 2 and '7 disclose the factthat each one of the tangential louvres 5!] is formed of several partsthat are longitudinally aligned so that all of the parts collectivelyform a single tangential louvre. These tangential louvres areconstructed or shaped so as to provide inner edge flanges 5| thatcooperate with or are positioned in the previously referred to angularseats that are formed by the inner end portions of the louvre supportingplates 34 and 35, and by the filler bars 3| and their associated radiallouvre flanges 26. The main bodies of all of the louvre supportingplates 34, 35, 42 and 4B are flatly engaged by the main bodies of thetangential louvres 50. Bolt and nut assemblies 52 are employed forconnecting the ends of the tangential louvre parts to the supportingplates 34, 35, 42 and 46. The bolts of these assemblies pass through thetransversely elongated apertures 36, 39, 4,3 and 41 0f the saidsupporting plates. These apertures are transversely elongated to allowfor expansion and contraction of the parts of the tangential louvres.

By inspecting Figs. 2=and 7, it willbe seen that the double widthsupporting plates 35 and 46' function to'interconnect adjacent ends oi?longitudinally aligned tangential louvre parts.

7 Fig. 2 best illustrates the fact that the tangential louvres can beconsidered as being sectionalized lengthwise of the cell or cylinder [4.That is to say, the disclosure of Fig. 2 illustrates that there arethree annular sections of tangential louvre parts provided within thecell or cylinder [4. It will be appreciated, therefore, that tangentiallouvre assemblies can be provided for dryer or cooler cells or cylindersI4 of different lengths by providin diiferent numbers of tangentiallouvre sections. That is to say, if all of the tangential louvre partsare six feet long, a twelve foot cell or cylinder I 4 will be providedwith two tangential louvre sections while three sections would berequired for an eighteen foot cell or cylinder. It has been found to bemore practical, however, to make the tangential louvre parts of fourfoot lengths so that three tangential louvre sections will provide anassembly for a twelve foot cell or cylinder 14 while four sections willprovide a tangential louvre assembly for a sixteen foot cell orcylinder.

It further will be appreciated that by forming each one of thetangential louvres of several parts, and by'fastening each part at itsends to supporting plates by means of bolt and nut assemblies, it isvery easy to repair or replace the tangential louvres. That is tosay,-it is only necessary to remove the parts of the tangential louvresthat are actually damaged and it is not necessary to remove or replacean entire tangen tial louvre if only one or two parts of the same aredamaged. 1

Having thus described'the invention, I claim:

1. A device of the type described, comprising a rotatably supported,horizontally arranged cylinder, an annular series of longitudinallyextending, substantially radial louvres secured at their outerlongitudinal edge portions "to the cylinder in circumferentially spacedrelation to form a circular series of radially inwardly openinglongitudinal treatment fluid passages, a plurality of circumferentiallyextending bars positioned between and attached at their ends to theinner longitudinal edge portions of adjacent radial louvres for tyingsaid louvre edge portions together, said tying bars bein arranged toform several circular series which are spaced longitudinally of thecylinder, plate members attached partly to said tying bars and partly tothe associated edge portions of the radial louvres to form a pluralityof circumferentially arranged, angular seats at the location of eachcircular series of tying bars, a plurality of longitudinally extending,tangential louvres supported in said angular seats to collectively forma supporting surface for a bed of material to be treated and to formpaths for discharging into the bed of material the treatment fluid thatleaves the fluid passages through their radial openings, and means fordletachably fastening said tangential louvres in p ace.

2. A device of the type described, comprising a rotatably supported,horizontally arranged cylinder, an annular series of longitudinallyextending, substantially radial louvres secured at their outerlongitudinal edge portions to the cylinder in circumferentially spacedrelation to form a circular series of radially inwardly opening longitudinal treatment fluid passages, a plurality of circumferentiallyextending bars: positioned betweerrand' attached at asemec 7 their endstothe? inner longitudinal edge portions or adjacent radial louvres fortying said louvre edge portions to- .gether, said tying bars beingarranged to form,

several circular series which are spaced longitudinally oi the cylinder,plate members attached partly to said tying bars and partly to theassociated edge portions of the radial louvres to form a plurality ofcircumferentially arranged angular ing' with the members forming saidseats to collectively form a supporting surface for a bed of material tobe treated and to form paths for discharging into the bed of materialthe treatment fiuid't'hat leaves the fluid passages through their radialopenings, and means for detachably fastening the ends of all of thelouvre parts to'the seat forming members with which they register.

3'. A device of the type described, comprisin a rotatablysupported,horizontally arranged cylinder, an annular series of longitudinallyextending, substantially radial louvres secured at their outerlongitudinal edge portions to the cylinder in circumferentially:spacedrelation to form a circular series of radially inwardly openinglongitudinal treatment fluid passages, a plurality of circumferentiall-yextending bars positioned between and attached at their ends to theinner longitudinal edge portions of adjacent radial I louvres for tyingsaid louvre edge portions together, said tying bars being arranged toform several circular series which are spaced longitudinally of thecylinder, a plurality of plates attached partly to said tying bars andpartly to the associated edge portions of the radial louvres to form alike number of tangentially extending supports at the location of eachcircular series of tying bars, a'plurality of longitudinally extending,tangential louvres supported on said plates to collectively form asupporting surface for abed of material to be treated and to form pathsfor discharging into the bed of material the treatment fluid that leavesthe fluid passages through their radial openings, and means for fastening thetangential louvres'to their supporting plates.

V 4. A device of the type described, comprising a rotatably supported,horizontally arranged cylinder, an annular series of longitudinallyextending, substantially radial louvres secured at their outerlongitudinal edge portions to the cylinder in circumferentially spacedrelation to form a circular series of radially inwardly openform a likenumber of tangentially extending supports at the location of eachcircular series of tying bars, a plurality of longitudinally extending,tangential louvres with each one of said louvres being formed of severallongitudinally aligned parts, said tangential louvres being supportedonsaid plates withztne ends o-f thealigned parts of the respectivelouvres registering with said plates to collectively form a supportingsurface for a bed of material to be treated and to form paths fordischarging into the bed of material the treatment fluid that leaves thefluid passages through their radial openings, and means for detachablyfastening the ends'of all of the louvre parts to the plates with whichthey register.

5. A device'of'the type described, comprising a rotat'ably supported,horizontally arranged cylinder, an annular series of longitudinallyextendins, substantially radial louvres secured at their outerlongitudinaledg'e portions to the cylinder in circumferentially spacedrelation to form a circular series of radially inwardly openinglongitudinal treatment fluid passages, a plurality of circumferentiallyextending bars positioned between and attached at their ends to theinner longitudinal edge portionsof adjacent radial louvres for tyingsaid louvre edge portions together, said tying bars-being arranged toform several circular series which'arespaced longitudinally of thecylinder, plate members attached partly to'said tying bars and partly tothe associated edge' portions of the radial louvres to form a pluralityof circumferentially arranged angular seats at the location of eachcircular series of bars, a plurality of longitudinally extending,tangential louvres having their outer longitudinal edgeportionsangularly flanged to fit said angular seats to collectively form asupporting surface for a bed of material to be treated and to form pathsfor discharging into 't-he'bed ofmaterial the treatment fluid thatleaves the fluid passages through their radial openings, and means forfastening said tangential louvres to the members forming said angularseats.

6. A device of the type described, comprising a rotatably' supported,horizontally arranged cyl inder, an annular series of longitudinally ex-7 tending, substantially radial louvres secured at their outerlongitudinal edge portions to the cylinder' in circumferentially spacedrelation to form a circular series of radially- -inwardly opening"longitudinal treatment fluid passagesa p1urality of circumferentiallyextending bars positioned between and attached at their ends to theinner longitudinal edge portions of adjacent radial louvres for tyingsaid louvre edge portions together, said'tying bars .being arranged toform several circular series which are spaced longitudinally of thecylinder, plate members attached partly to said tying bars and partly tothe associated edge portions of the radial louvres to form a pluralityof circumierentially arranged angular seats at the location of eachcircular series of bars, a plurality of longitudinally extending,tangential louvres having their outer longitudinal edge portionsangularly flanged to fit said angular seats to collectively form asupporting surface for a bed of material to be treated and to form pathsfor discharging into the bed of material the treatment fluid that leavesthe fluid passages through their radial openings, each one of saidtangential louvres being formed of several longitudinally aligned partswith the ends of the aligned parts registering with the members formingsaid seats, and means for detachably fastening' the ends of all of thelouvre parts to the seat formingmemberswith which they register.

7. A device of the type described, comprising arotatably supported,horizontally arranged cylinder, means forming an annular series oflongitudinally extending, radially inwardly opening treatment fluidpassages at the inner circumference of the cylinder, a stationary inletmanifold at one end of the cylinder for delivering treatment fluid tothe adjacent ends of a limited number of said fluid passages as therotation of the cylinder causes said passage ends to successivelyregister with said manifold, means for tyin together the fluid passageforming means at locations that are longitudinally spaced andcircumferentially arranged with respent to the cylinder, plate membersattached partly to said tying means and partly to the fluid passageforming means to form a plurality of circumferentially arranged angularseats at each longitudinally spaced location of the tying means, aplurality of longitudinally extending, overlapping, tangential louvresarranged inwardly of said treatment fluid passage and supported in saidangular seats to collectively form a supporting surface for a bed ofmaterial to be treated and to form paths for discharging treatment fluidfrom said passages into the bed of material, and means for detachablyfastening said tangential louvres to said seats.

8. A device of the type described, comprising a rotatably supported,horizontally arranged cylinder, an annular series of longitudinallyextending, substantially radial louvres secured at their outerlongitudinal edge portions to the cylinder in circumferentially spacedrelation to form a circular series of lon itudinal treatment fluidpassages, a stationary inlet manifold at one end of the cylinder fordelivering treatment fluid to the adjacent ends of a limited number ofsaid fluid passages as the rotation of the cylinder causes said passageends to successively register with said manifold, a plurality ofcircumferentially extending bars positioned between and attached attheir ends to the inner longitudinal edge portions of adjacent radiallouvres for tyilflg said louvre edge portions together, said tying barsbeing arranged to form several circular series which are spacedlongitudinally of the cylinder, a plurality of tangentially extendingplates associated with each circular series of tying bars, means forattaching alternate ones of said plates to the tying bars and to theassociated inner edge portions of the radial louvres, means forattaching the remainin ones of said plates to the associated inner edgeportions-of the radial louvres and to the'said alternate ones of saidplates, each one of said plates forming a support, a plurality oflongitudinally extending, overlapping, tangential louvres arrangedinwardly of said treatment fluid passages and engaging said supportingplates to collectively form a supporting surface for the .bed ofmaterial to be treated and to form paths for discharging the treatmentfluid from said passages into the bed of material, and means fordetachably fastening said tangential louvres to said supporting plates.

9. A device of the type defined by claim 8, further characterized byeach tangential louvre being formed of several longitudinally alinedparts with the ends of the parts registering with and detachablyfastened to the tangentially extending plate supports.

JOHN L. ERISMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,126,077 Prindle Jan. 26, 19151,221,412 Bernhard Apr. 3, 1917 2,268,296 Narsted et al. Dec. 30, 19412,483,630 Erisman Oct. 4, 1949 OTHER REFERENCES The Link-BeltRoto-Louvre Dryer, Book No. 1911, Dgs. 12-15, copyright 1941 byLink-Belt Co,

